Apparatus for preparing a coated foodstuff

Abstract

An apparatus for coating a foodstuff with particulate coating material includes conveyors and means for applying the particulate material. A first conveyor has a horizontal upper run and a second conveyor has an upper run which includes an inclined portion positioned beneath the first conveyor which extends upwards towards the leading edge of the first conveyor and terminates in a horizontal upper run portion which extends to the leading edge of the second conveyor. Means are provided for applying particulate material onto another portion of the second conveyor prior to the inclined portion. The first conveyor transports pieces of a foodstuff to be coated to its leading edge whereat the foodstuff is deposited upon particulate material transported on the second conveyor, the pieces of foodstuff and particulate material then being further transported on the horizontal portion of the second conveyor to a position whereat means are provided for applying particulate material onto the foodstuff. The coated foodstuff is then further transported towards a third conveyor which is positioned such that its trailing edge is positioned a distance sufficient from the leading edge of the second conveyor for forming a space for allowing particulate material to fall through the space between the two conveyors and for receiving the coated foodstuff and transporting it from the second conveyor.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for coating a foodstuff with particulate material comprising: a first conveyor having a horizontal upper run extending to a leading edge for transporting pieces of a foodstuff;   a second conveyor having an upper run including an inclined portion and a horizontal portion, the inclined portion being positioned beneath the first conveyor and extending upwards towards the leading edge of the first conveyor and terminating in the horizontal portion which extends to a second conveyor leading edge, the second conveyor being adapted for transporting particulate coating material and being positioned for receiving the pieces of the foodstuff from the leading edge of the first conveyor which are deposited upon the particulate material on the second conveyor for coating and transport with the particulate material;   means for applying particulate material onto another portion of the second conveyor prior to the inclined portion;   means for applying particulate material onto the pieces of the foodstuff transported on the horizontal portion of the second conveyor;   a third conveyor positioned at the second conveyor leading edge having a trailing edge positioned a distance sufficient from the second conveyor leading edge for forming a space for allowing particulate material to fall from the second conveyor leading edge through the space and for receiving coated foodstuff from the second conveyor leading edge for transporting coated foodstuff away from the second conveyor; and   means including an upwardly inclined fourth conveyor for receiving and transporting particulate material falling through the space for distribution to each means for applying particulate material.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a roller positioned over the horizontal portion of the second conveyor between the means for applying particulate material and the second conveyor leading edge for pressure rolling the coated foodstuff. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for receiving and transporting particulate material includes the fourth conveyor and a chute associated with the space between the second and third conveyors for receiving the falling particulate material from the space and a fifth conveyor for transporting the received particulate material to the fourth conveyor. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for applying particulate material to the second conveyor is a U-shaped endless belt having a leading edge positioned over the second conveyor prior to the inclined portion of the second conveyor, the means for applying particulate material to the foodstuff on the horizontal portion of the second conveyor is a U-shaped endless belt and wherein chutes connect the fourth conveyor with the U-shaped belts for distribution of the particulate material to the belts. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for applying particulate material to the second conveyor includes a sixth conveyor having a leading edge positioned over the second conveyor prior to the inclined portion of the second conveyor. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the sixth conveyor and the means for applying particulate material to the foodstuff on the horizontal portion of the second conveyor are U-shaped endless belts. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein chutes connect the fourth conveyor with the U-shaped belts for distribution of the particulate material to the belts.